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Patented Oct. ll, I898.

A. T. MCDOWELL.

MATCH SAFE.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1897.)

(No Model.)

amvm wo-z UNITED STATES PATENT. ()FFICE.

ALBERT T. MCDOWELL, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO W'ALTER A. MCEVILLY, OF SAME PLACE.

MATCl-l SAFE.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,262, dated October 11,1898- Application filed April 10, 1897.

do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to match-safes.

My object is to provide a match-safe which will be extremely simple and cheap and ornamental and may be readily filled, and which will be of such novel construction that only one match can be obtained at a time.

Having the foregoing object in view, the invention consists of a match-safe of improved construction, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a cross-section, and Fig. 3 a sectional detail view showing the connection of the match-reservoir sections. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the ends of the sections of which the reservoir is made.

The numeral 1 designates a base, which may be of any preferred construction. From said base there arises a flat guide 2, made as ornamental as desirable and cut away at 3, the edge 4 being grooved, as shown, to receive a match. The match-reservoir is shown at 5. This consists of duplicate sections 6 and 7, which are located on opposite sides of the guide and are preferably providedwith the inclined bottoms 8 and 9, so that the matches Will tend to gravitate toward the guide, and

the feed to the grooveof the latter will be in- Serial N0- 631,541. (No model.)

are first removed and the sections of the reservoir spread and filled with matches. They are then closed together-and the pins inserted. When it is desirable to obtain a match, the reservoir is slid upwardly on the guide until it strikes the projecting portions of the same. The matches will then gravitate and one will be received in the groove. As the reservoir is slid backward the remaining matches fall away from the match which is caught in the groove, and the said match is exposed when the reservoir is resting on the base. The operation of raising and lowering the reservoir should be carried on slowly in order to prevent the matches from clogging or becoming broken or ignited. After the match has been removed, which can be easily done, another may be obtained.

It will be observed that the guide 2 is formed with an extension above the lower edge of the opening 3, in which the groove 4 is formed for the reception of the matches. It will also be observed that during the upward and downward movement of the reservoir 5 for the purpose of delivering one match at a time to the groove 4 said reservoir will always be in operative engagement with the guide 2, and accidental disconnection thereof will be ef fectually prevented.

There are many slight changes which could be resorted to in carrying out the present invention, and I do not therefore limit myself to the precise construction herein described, but consider that I am entitled to all such changes as properly come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a match-safe, the combination of the base having a fiat guide extending upwardly therefrom, formed with an opening in the I lower edge of which a match-receiving groove is cut, the said guide being further provided with an extension above said groove and with 5 laterally-extending lugs, and a match-reservoir adapted to slide on said guide and normally resting on the base below said groove, the upward movement of said reservoir being limited by said lugs. mo

guide, of a match-reservoir comprising two sections located on opposite sides of the guide and having interlocking tongues, and removable pins passing through said'tongues.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT '1. MCDOWELL.

Witnesses:

WALTER A. MoEvILLY, WM. E. BOWEN. 

